Projects
Note: Information below is for 2024 season. Please check back later for updated project list for 2025 season.
Before applying, read through the project descriptions to decide which three you will rank as your top choices on the application. There are fewer projects listed in the Indigenous Scholars program because of grant requirements for faculty mentors to take culturally inclusive training. We are working to get all faculty trained. But for this first year, we are offering a limited number of projects.
Entomology Projects
A. Exploring biopesticides and biocontrol to manage mites in bee hives
Apple production is an important part of upstate New York’s economy and relies heavily on pollinators, particularly honeybees. Unfortunately, Varroa mites pose a major threat to bee populations and are now resistant to many commonly used pesticides. Integrated Pest Management practices aim to replace or reduce chemical usage through incorporating biopesticides and biological control into agricultural settings. With a summer researcher, we will explore eco-friendly solutions such as combining a peptide-based biopesticide and entomopathogenic fungi to control Varroa mites. We plan to track how long these treatments stay in hives to guide how often they should be applied.
Lab: 50%, Field: 50%
Mentors: Petra Hafker, Christophe Duplais
B. Exploring the impacts of earthworms on soil health in specialty crops
Earthworms are recognized as important ecosystem engineers in agricultural soils. Their tunneling and mixing activities serve to aerate soil, form stable soil aggregates, and incorporate organic matter into the soil profile. Yet, less well known are the impacts earthworms have on the microbial inhabitants of agricultural soils. Current research in our lab is exploring how earthworm activity influences plant and soil health. Our summer scholar will build upon this work by designing and leading experiments to measure the impacts of earthworms on the activities and ecological functioning of different soil fungi including both plant and insect pathogens. The student working on this project will gain experience in a range of tools and procedures from both soil and microbial ecology.
Lab & Greenhouse: 80%, Field: 20%
Mentors: Kyle Wickings, Maryam Chelkha
Horticulture Projects
C. There are seeds… and then there are Hemp Seeds!
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds can be a high-protein source for human and animal nutrition with an ideal omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio. Hemp seed size can vary by an order of magnitude, with a multitude of colors.
This project will analyze the seed variation in a mapping population to identify genomic loci associated with seed morphology, color, and protein content.
The summer scholar will learn and apply genetics and genomics techniques for QTL mapping, comparative genomics, and candidate gene and protein structure analysis.
The results of this project will facilitate the development of molecular markers to accelerate hemp breeding programs.
Processing facility: 50%, Lab: 25%, Computer: 25%
Mentors: Luis Monserrate, Larry Smart
D. Powdery mildew hops to hemp!
One of the most prevalent diseases on indoor Cannabis sativa cultivation is powdery mildew, mainly caused by the fungus Golovinomyces ambrosiae. But the hop powdery mildew pathogen, Podosphaera macularis, can also infect hemp. There is limited knowledge of the range of susceptibility in hemp to P. macularis. This project entails conducting controlled inoculations of different genotypes of hemp to characterize resistance to hop powdery mildew. The summer scholar will learn how to maintain an obligate pathogen, rate disease severity, and analyze those results.
Lab: 40%, Greenhouse: 50%, Computer: 10%
Mentors: Lucia Vignale, Larry Smart
Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology Projects
E. Cultivating Resilience: Strategies to Beat Septoria Leaf Spot in NY Hemp
In New York, hemp serves as a crucial crop for fiber, grain, and cannabinoids. Septoria leaf spot is a common and devastating fungal disease that significantly impacts hemp yields. Resistant cultivars are the key to tackling this disease! Participants will gain practical skills in hemp cultivation in both greenhouse and field settings, along with techniques such as inoculation and disease rating. Additionally, the program covers Septoria cannabina DNA extraction, providing insights into the genetic diversity of the pathogen population. This research will provide valuable insights for hemp growers and breeders to push for sustainable and disease-free hemp!
Lab: 50%, Field: 50%
Mentors: Chris Smart, Jocelyn Schwartz
F. Pathogen Pioneers: Crafting Solutions for Cucurbit Yellow Vine Disease
The cucurbit enemy: Cucurbit Yellow Vine Disease (CYVD) is a disease caused by the bacterium Serratia marcescens, and it is transmitted by the squash bug, a common pest of cucurbits. CYVD was just recently found in NY and there is a lot learn. We will evaluate the preference of the squash bug for different cucurbit species (watermelon, melon, zucchini, pumpkin, cucumber, and squash) and how it affects the amount of CYVD we see in each species. We will also have lab work to do! We will collect samples, isolate the bacterium, and use simple molecular techniques to identify the causal agent, as well as collect squash bugs to determine the presence or absence of Serratia marcescens in their gut.
Lab: 50%, Field: 50%
Mentors: Chris Smart, Kensy Rodriguez-Herrera
Food Science Project
G. Non-destructive monitoring of drying status in a microwave vacuum dryer
Monitoring drying status is critical to determine optimal drying conditions and times for improved processing efficiency and food product quality. Non-destructive sensing techniques (such as infrared spectroscopy, thermal imaging, and machine vision) have been increasingly used to evaluate food processes.
Microwave vacuum drying (MVD) is a new promising drying technology for producing crispy fruit and vegetable snacks. However, monitoring of the drying status inside a MVD dryer using regular sensors has been challenging, as most sensors that contain metal components would interfere and create dangerous conditions within the microwave chamber. Therefore, the main research question that needs to be answered is how to accurately measure the defining variables of the MVD process and food products, such as temperature, moisture, shape change, and quality attributes, while protecting the sensors and ensuring operational safety.
This project aims to develop a non-destructive sensing technique based on thermal imaging and machine vision tools for the pilot scale MVD dryer system to better monitor the drying process. The summer scholar will determine the suitable hardware and software components, design and develop the tool, and test the non-destructive sensing technique in the MVD drying process for selected foods, such as fruit and vegetable chips. The student will work with current Cornell Ph.D. students to learn basic engineering design, imaging analysis, coding, machine learning, chemometric techniques and process optimization. The student will gain hands-on experience in food process engineering, non-destructive sensing, tool design and development, and will have access to other drying and food processing technologies in the Cornell Food Venture Center Pilot Plant and the food processing labs.
Lab—100%
Mentors: Chang Chen, Olga Padilla-Zakour
